Have you ever visited Lonely Planet's travel board (thorn tree, I believe it's called)?
Lots of anti-mainstream travel posters there, but the degree of activity is lower.

Forgive me for rising to the bait, MoniqueU, but you DID post this expecting replies. No, you are not alone, but if you feel that way here it may be because you seem to be easily "board" (except in Las Vegas, it seems) by a number of experiences, including reading menus. Maybe you just have midwinter blahs, but what you are doing still qualifies as criticizing much of what you find here, so it makes sense to suggest that maybe "here" isn't where you want to be.

But maybe the other idea -- that you open up your mind about some things, allow yourself to consider things you've ruled out because they might bore you or challenge you or make you work to understand them -- is a better one.

In any case, it doesn't make sense to post something like this and expect a long set of responses like "sister, are you ever right, most posts here are stupid." Nahgannahapp'n.

clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap (applauding Neal's post).

I think all travelers think outside the box or we wouldn't get out of town in the first place.

Thanks goodness for the people who keep visiting the same old places every year. After all, we do need experts for the first timers and thank goodness those experts post their invaluable advice. Advice you probably wouldn't find in a guidebook.

Your idea of a boring horrid vacation may be some other person's paradise.

It takes all kinds to make the world go round.

Soccr, no need to rise to the bait as I wasn't baiting anyone. I was just curious about other travelers perspectives even if they don't agree with me or have the same interests.
As far as needing to broaden my horizons I agree to some extent. I am tired of Vegas thats for sure. I just live close and that is the number one weekend getaway from Southern California. I can't count how many times I have been because that is where my friends and family want to go, not because I planned a trip for a year to go there.
However I can say I don't need to attend a show there or in NY to know if I like it or not. I don't agree. For the same reason I don't need to go to a rap or heavy metal concert to see if I like it. It could be the number one rap artist and have all the talent in the world it just isn't for me. I would not enjoy it. After having seen clips and advertisements for numerous shows I can say the same. I don't think it's for me.

Interests and travel are very personal things and you are not likely to find everyone in agreement with you, whether here on the Fodors TalkBoards or elsewhere. From my experience here, I guess I would qualify as a "contrary" traveler in some ways. Here are a few examples. From postings here, probably 85-90% of Fodorites absolutely detest moving their lodging everynight and will go out of their way to avoid doing so, even if they backtrack on their itinerary. And they will recommend you don't do that either. I'm contrary. I have no problem with staying at a different place everynight if it makes sense in the larger scheme of my travel plans. If I can stay in one place for several days, great, but I am more interested in seeing sights and that usually requires moving.

A number of people enjoy their vacations at the beach...their whole vacation. You know, plop down in the beach chair in the morning and lie around all day reading or whatever. Everyday, for a week (or longer). I'm contrary. While the beach is fine for a few hours or even a full day here or there, it won't ever be the highlight of any of my vacations, even in Hawaii. Too many other things that are more interesting.

B&B's. Many Fodorites seem to prefer them. I'm contrary. I don't prefer B&B's. I have found many to be overrated and simply not up to the standards of most hotels or even higher end motels. In the Europe forum, a number of people have posted about a particular B&B in Ireland (I don't recall the name). They went on to say that the owner was somewhat of a dictator. I guess some people will put up with anything for a reasonably priced room; that was all I needed to hear to rule that place out. Mrs. MileKing likes B&Bs to some extent so we do stay at them on occasion. However, we usually only stay when it is in a "B&B type area" (i.e. Bar Harbor, parts of Vermont and NH, etc.) and I've had sufficient opportunity to screen them.

You characterize the Grand Canyon as a "hole in the ground". We obviously disagree on that. Many Fodorites rave about Venice. We've been there. It's OK, but we prefer Florence. Guess I'm contrary on that too.

Frankly, I try not to concern myself with what any one individual here may think. They have interests and a way of travelling that they enjoy just as I do. I may not understand why they feel the way they do, but hey, that is what they like so who am I to dispute it. I use this forum for information and accept the recommendations for what they are. If many people report having a positive or negative experience somewhere, then that is something I will take into consideration when planning my trips. Enjoy this travel board for what it is.

I know I'm a contrary traveler if that is defined by not liking what a lot of other people like. Just a look at the advertisements in the back of the Sunday travel section make me know that most of what is advertised I do not find particularly appealing: cruises, all-inclusive trips to the Caribbean where you stay one week in the same place, Las Vegas, Orlando. I like to explore an area and will stay at a different hotel every night to do so. But not every vacation is like that. And I, too, would be totally bored on the beach all week. After one day of hanging out at the beach, I feel like, OK, Let's go DO something. And to me, the only reason to go to Vegas is b/c it's close to the Grand Canyon and the red rock country.

Some of my very favorite vacations are hiking in the national parks, especially out west. I know that is not terribly popular around here, b/c a post of mine where I asked for everyone's favorite hikes got few responses.

But that doesn't mean I feel "alone" here. I don't know that there would be any travel board where everyone felt like I did! We don't only travel to the national parks, and I appreciate all the really helpful info I've received here, about all sorts of topics. This site is by far better than any one guidebook!

But I do have to agree with Patrick. What drives me crazy is when someone posts and asks for very specific info and someone posts with info on a totally different area! One time I recall reading where someone said they were traveling to Arizona and had to include several days in Phoenix for a family event. Someone replied that Phoenix was too far out of the way for the rest of their itinerary and they should skip that. But, in all fairness, that a problem will all message boards, not just here. I posted on another message board about houseboating on Lake Powell. I stated we wanted to take my boys to the SW and wondered if the lower water levels would affect houseboating there. Someone replied and told me we should go houseboating somewhere in Northern California instead!

I think thinking outside the standard box is why people who post travel questions on here need to be more specific. Countless times we've seen the posts of "I'm going to blah blah place, where should I go and what should I do there?" without even mentioning what they're into.

I'm not a museum or broadway person by any means, and yet everyone who comes to NYC always mentions having to see a museum or a broadway show. The last time I was in any museum here was a class trip in grade school! The only broadway shows I've been to was when someone else sprung tickets on me (my ex boyfriend, my old boss because we were entertaining clients.) I too, have been to Florida in the summer, hell I went to Miami this past July! I am also in no rush to go to Hawaii either. So I understand about your opinions. On the contrary to this, however, when I went to DC I found myself going to the museums. Strange, isn't it?

The beauty of this board is that we are all seeing our own private idaho, albeit temporarily. When you find your desired destination, the people here are always willing to help with any input, good or bad. Of course, there's something to be said for doing your own research before posting! But I have learned to avoid certain places and check out others I would have never come up with or even saw in a travel guide had it not been for people on this board.

However, I have discovered places in my own town that I didn't know existed, and also realized that not every place people rave about is going to be everyone's cup of tea. Case in point: Grimaldi's and Il Mulino. I went to both places based on raves from this board and was not impressed with either place. Maybe because as a native New Yorker raised on fluffy crust I am not into thin crust pizza (Grimaldi's) or I went on the same night as a private engagement party (Il Mulino). But the way I see it, I didn't knock it until I tried it and realized it just wasn't for me, but for the throngs of people who go and love it, great for them.

I like to keep it half planned, half winging it. Half tourist area, half off the beaten path. So far, it's worked for me. We all just need to find our own equation that works. :-)

I'm of the opposite school and when I see something that I know will be miserable, I suggest an alternative.

Example: a visitor from the UK first time trip to the states wanting to visit the southeast in August!

Whoa! Maybe New York, Boston, New England would be a better itinerary for this time period. I live in South Carolina and I'm miserable here in August so I cannot imagine someone from the UK being able to stand our heat and humidity. Sorry but New Orleans sounds like hell in August.

Now if someone specifically asks for advice on Charleston, I'd never tell them to go to NYC instead.